6 Parts of Home Insurance You Need to Know About

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Home insurance in North Carolina is a special type of insurance called a multi-peril policy. What does a multi-peril policy do? It covers you for several types of scenarios at once, such as medical payments from accidents and property damage. Here at Cross Creek Insurance in Hope Hills, NC, we’ll show you the six parts that make up home insurance in North Carolina.

A. Dwelling – Often determined by the home’s market value, this part of your home insurance covers major damage to the house and the structural buildings that are attached to it. 

B. Other Structures – This part of the policy takes care of the structures on your property that aren’t attached to the house, such as sheds and separated garages. 

C. Personal Property – This section helps pay for the contents lost that you or family members who reside with you own. Take caution that it may not cover everything, so purchasing additional riders would be wise. 

D. Loss of Use – Loss of use helps pay for the meals and lodging expenses you could have if the home cannot be inhabited after a natural disaster.

E. Personal Liability – If an accident happens at your home, you will probably be responsible. This section helps pay for the costs from such accidents and protects your liability.

F. Medical Payments to Others – Similar to section E, this part helps pay for the medical expenses of the person who was hurt.

Many more details are included in a North Carolina insurance policy. To find out if a specific scenario will be covered or not by your home insurance, contact us today at Cross Creek Insurance in Hope Hills, NC. You can also email us anytime at your convenience.

How Can Auto Insurance Be Your Best Resource?

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Auto insurance is by definition a long-term need. You may wonder how you might get through your day-to-day schedule if you didn’t have your phone, nanny or industrial-size cup of coffee, but your car can be just as important when it comes to keeping the lifestyle you want. Cross Creek Insurance wants the people of Hope Hills, NC to understand why they may be overlooking one of the best resources available. 

Advice, Spending, and Decisions 

Your auto insurance should be the source of turning abstract concepts into real information that you understand. It’s not your job to learn the jargon of insurance, but it is your job to know how each situation affects you. You may have to spend more on your premium to ward off extra expenses that may mount up after an accident occurs. And it’s important to remember that these costs aren’t just going to be a problem if you cause the accident. If you’re involved in a hit-and-run or an uninsured motorist hits you, then you will still need a way to fix your car so you can get to work. Auto insurance should be a place for you to turn, so you can keep your money, your car and your health.

How We Help

Cross Creek Insurance operates on the basis of personal attention. When you feel comfortable calling us, you also feel comfortable getting the information you need to feel secure on the road. It means that if you do choose liability, you understand the terms of it, and have a means to deal with the hardships should they arise. If you live in Hope Hills, NC and are looking for a company you can trust, then give us a call today to see how we’re different. 

Auto Insurance Hope Hills, NC

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The terms and conditions to auto accidents determine compensatory remedies of damages in court. In North Carolina, fault is initially established by driver admission, or law enforcement record prior to litigation. Drivers seeking damages for medical or property from the responsible party, must be able to substantiate a claim. The type of auto insurance policy determines the provision of damage compensation after an accident.

Auto Insurance in North Carolina

North Carolina mandates that auto liability coverage is the minimum indemnity that can be held on a vehicle. If a driver is still paying on an auto finance loan installment agreement, comprehensive collision coverage is required at market value of the vehicle asset.  When purchasing auto insurance coverage in North Carolina, find a policy that covers a range of damages and medical expenses associated with property repair, hospitalization, and vehicle replacement as part of an accident claim.

Auto liability coverage minimums in North Carolina begin at $30,000 for bodily Injury for a single injured person, $60,000 for bodily Injury of multiple injured persons, and $25,000 for property damage per accident. Some liability policies cover lost wages and other medical expenses outside of hospitalization. Natural disaster coverage is a standard provision within North Carolina auto insurance law, and may be important in a circumstance where a hurricane has caused a collision with another driver.

Protect Yourself from Accident Litigation

Automobile accident litigation can be a costly expense for an insured with limited liability coverage. With comprehensive auto coverage, court ordered compensation of damages may be mitigated by a policy. Supplement an auto insurance policy with comprehensive collision coverage and uninsured/underinsured motorist insurance protection and avoid the risks of litigation in North Carolina.  

For auto insurance coverage in North Carolina, contact an insurance broker with Cross Creek Insurance in Hope Hills, NC.

5 Tips to Reduce the Risk of Car Theft

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Car theft can happen to anyone at any given time, especially if you live in a high crime area. For this reason, it’s important to take precautions that would discourage thieves from targeting your vehicle. A standard auto insurance policy from Cross Creek Insurance in Hope Hills, NC, will ensure your vehicle is covered in the event of theft. By doing your part, however, you may never have to put in a theft claim for your car.   

Always Lock Your Car: Many car owners encourage theft by leaving keys in the ignition or their vehicle running while they hop in and out of their home, a convenience store or gas station. It’s better to develop the habit of always rolling up windows and locking your car, regardless of how short a time you’ll be gone. Lock your vehicle even when parking in your driveway for any length of time.

Put Valuables Out of Sight: Don’t leave valuables in plain sight in your vehicle as this can attract the attention of would-be thieves and encourage them to target your car. Store valuables in your trunk or hide them beneath the seats where they’re out of sight/out of mind.

Park Smart: Park in well-lit, busy parking areas to make car theft more difficult without being seen or caught.   

Buy a Club: Buy a club (locking device) and use it on your steering wheel every time you leave the car.

Invest in a Car Alarm: If you live or work in a high crime area, invest in an auto alarm or security system to protect your vehicle, particularly if it’s a model that’s targeted often.

By taking preventative measures to safeguard your vehicle, you reduce the risk of theft. For more tips on theft prevention and information on affordable auto insurance in Hope Hills, NC, contact Cross Creek Insurance today.

Homeowners Insurance For First Time Buyers

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If you’re buying a home for the first time, and you’re planning on getting a mortgage, your lender will require you to bring proof of homeowners insurance to your closing.  For purposes of protecting your lender’s interests in the property, you’ll need to include your lender’s name in the mortgagee’s clause.  It’s unlikely that you’ll be able to close on the home without your lender being protected.  You might even need to include six months of coverage for the next year as part of your closing costs.  At Cross Creek Insurance in Hope Hills NC, we’ll help you meet your homeowners insurance requirements.  At a minimum, you’ll want to insure:

  • Your dwelling and any other structures on the property
  • Your personal property inside of the home
  • Your liability for any injuries or property damage on the land
  • Medical payments coverage is somebody is injured on your property

On top standard coverage for your home, you might want additional coverage.  Think about flood coverage if you live in an area where flooding occurs.  You might even want special endorsements for certain personal property like artwork, jewelry, furs or electronics.  A standard policy will only pay for loss or damage to those items on a limited basis. 

You’ll also need to make a decision on whether you want your home and personal property insured for actual cash value or replacement cost.  Replacement cost is a bit more expensive, but as opposed to actual cash value, it doesn’t contemplate depreciation.  Replacement cost is the better choice for homeowners.

You’ll want to speak with one of our agents at Cross Creek Insurance in Hope Hills, NC in order to customize the best options for you.  Just give us a call or stop in for a cup of coffee.

Types of Home Insuranced You Might Need

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There are a few different types of home insurance that you may need that are often attached to where you live. For those that live in Hope Hills, NC for instance, earthquake insurance is not something that you are likely ever to use, but for those in San Diego, CA, it may be a necessity.

Taking the time to learn about a few different types of home insurance can help you start to think about what coverage you need. General home policies cover things like fire, theft, break-ins, damage from storms, and injury of those that are on your property.

Most basic policies do not cover hurricane, earthquake, flood, or the cost of replacing very valuable collections that you may have. If you live in an area where floods are common, you may need a flood policy that can be tacked onto the cost of your basic policy. The same goes for hurricane and earthquake policies, they are not included in basic policies, but they can be added.

Similarly, if you have a large collection of jewelry, it may be safer to take out a policy that is just for those pieces than it would be to take out more home owners insurance that may or may not cover the replacement or retrieval of these pieces. On top of all that, you can take out more insurance on your home if you have made improvements to it.

The process of getting insurance for the value of your home is simple, the inspector will be sent from the agency, and they will valuate your home. This will allow them to set the coverage limits and determine pay outs if the home is a total loss or how to base their pay outs in the event of damage. Each location has different considerations and speaking with your agent if you live in the Hope Hills, NC area you can get the coverage you need.  Contact Cross Creek Insurance to learn more.

3 Ways to Improve the Exterior of Your Home

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Whether you are selling your home or wanting to live in it for the rest of your life, it is imperative that you keep both its interior and exterior looking as good as possible. From washing the windows to pruning the rose bushes, taking care of your home will improve both its value as well as its looks. Here is a close look at a few tips you can follow to help improve the exterior of your home. 

Tip #1: Wash the windows regularly

When driving by your home, your eyes may not go directly to the windows, but when people are walking up your sidewalk, they will likely notice them if they haven’t been recently cleaned. Fortunately, cleaning the windows isn’t as difficult as you may have thought. If you don’t know how or don’t have the time to wash your windows, you can always turn to the services of a professional window cleaning company. Ideally, you will want the exterior of the windows to be cleaned once every three months and the interior cleaned at least once every two weeks. 

Tip #2: Take care of the landscaping

Mowing your lawn is a great way to keep the exterior of your home looking its best, but it is just as important to keep the bushes trimmed and the mulch fresh too. Taking care of the landscaping can be time-consuming, but working in it for just 20 minutes a day can go a long way. 

To learn more about improving the exterior of your home and home insurance, contact Cross Creek Insurance serving the Hope Hills, NC area. 

5 Things You Need to Know About Your Auto Insurance

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Auto insurance can be difficult for even the most experienced person. This is because facts vary from state to state and person to person. Before you decide you’ve got a handle on it all, check out these 5 facts from Cross Creek Insurance in Hope Hills, NC about your insurance. 

1. Your Rates Are Personalized 

And they can be drastically different with just a few slight adjustments. This is why you’re asked so many questions before you’re finally given a quote. 

2. Liability Is Not for Most People 

Most people can’t afford to buy another car if they happen to be involved in an accident, so even though it’s cheaper, it may make less sense in the long-term. 

3. Insurance Gets Messy 

Different companies may see the same events very differently, and it can cause problems for everyone. Policies change, and state governments impose their own rules in terms of limits and placing fault on people. 

4. Your Stuff Isn’t Safe  

Even if you have theft coverage on your car, the stuff inside your car may not be covered. Meaning if you keep your expensive laptop or jewelry in there, you may want to rethink how you store your things. Also, if you have after-market customization, then that may not be covered (unless you’ve updated your policy.)

5. Large Insurance Companies May Not Be the Way to Go 

When you deal with a huge corporation, it’s easy to get lost in the mix. You will have few relationships there and few people to call besides the major number that everyone has. Cross Creek Insurance in Hope Hills, NC wants you to have the care you deserve, so call us today to talk to us about our quotes and polices. 

 

When is it Necessary to Update Auto Insurance?

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If you haven’t reviewed your car insurance lately, it would be wise to do so. Lifestyle changes over the last year could have some effect on your policy. You don’t want to wait for an accident to happen to discover there are gaps in your coverage. Changes in your personal situation may even qualify you for insurance discounts you weren’t eligible before. If you’ve gone through any of the following changes in the last year, it’s to your advantage to update your auto insurance coverage.

Change of Employment – A new job could alter your driving patterns, increasing or reducing your risk of accidents. These changes could affect the cost of your premium. If you drive much less due to a shorter commute, you may be able to get a discount on your insurance.

New Home Purchase – If you’ve bought a new house in Hope Hills, NC, you could accrue substantial savings by bundling your auto and home policies with Cross Creek Insurance. By talking to a local agent, you can get a better idea of the benefits that bundling has to offer.

Marital Status – If you’re adding or removing a spouse from your policy due to marriage or divorce, you’ll need to update your coverage.

Add a Teen Driver to your Policy – If you’re planning to add your teen son or daughter to your insurance, you should update your policy to ensure you have adequate coverage for all drivers in your family. Young drivers increase the risk of accidents. By raising your coverage limits, you’ll have ample protection against any eventuality. On the positive side, if your teen has completed a driver’s training course, you could qualify for a discount on your auto insurance. 

For more information on how lifestyle changes can affect your auto insurance coverage, talk to a Cross Creek Insurance agent at Hope Hills, NC.  

 

Flash Flood Damage and Auto Insurance

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With regional weather changing away dramatically from historical patterns, people are finding that problems are happening with a lot less warning and more dramatic instances. Flash flooding is a big issue, especially in areas that are valleys between slopes as well as areas that represent runoff zones for regional rivers and drainage. That can mean folks very well find themselves in serious trouble with surprises and immediate changes in water levels with little warning or advance notice. Flooding is one of those not-so-common conditions that frequently ends up in a gray area with auto coverage. On the one hand, acts of God tend to be covered if the car owner has a comprehensive plan which anticipates such situations. On the other hand, limited policies may exclude flooding or may require additional documentation that can show the owner had no chance of being able to move or protect the car first before the damage occurred.

For those who are in areas near creeks, rivers, runoffs or drainage areas, it’s a smart idea to take a close look at one’s existing car policy and see what it says about flooding in general. If there is no specific mention, it may be wise to get a reconsideration or a plan change. If you’re in the Hope Hills, NC region, Cross Creek Insurance can help decipher and make sense of the ins and outs in auto insurance policies and what’s covered with each coverage choice. There’s no reason to play a guessing game. Their expert agents can walk a consumer through each situation and how it will be handled with the appropriate coverage in place. It’s the kind of service that makes a difference in a world filled with a lot of confusing rules otherwise.